The War on Terror
2 Kings 19:1-37 (KJV)
TERROR. The rendering of several Heb. words and one Gk. word denoting great fear, that which agitates both body and mind. Some of these words have as their primary meaning the cause of fear, others the result. Thus ’êmâ (Joshua 2:9; Job 20:25; Psalm 55:4; Psalm 88:15) is that which inspires dread, as a king (Job 33:7); idols (Jeremiah 50:38), from the "fear" with which they fill their worshipers; meh[ittâ (Isaiah 54:14) is a breaking in pieces, and so consternation, from h[a4tat, to "be broken, confounded" (Genesis 35:5; Ezekiel 26:17; Ezekiel 32:23-32); ba4lâ denotes the falling away of a person in sickness, a garment through age, etc., and so the mind consumed with anxiety and care. Other words simply express fear, as the Gk. word phobos.
Hezekiah under attack by terrorists
note his response
I. He presented the terrorist’s threat to God! v.14
14And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord.
A. Note: We would save ourselves alot of fear by not reading every note the devil sends our way.
B. He didn’t waste time worrying over it, he knew where to take things that were bigger than he was.
C. It wasn’t enought that he brought them to the house of the Lord, He spread it out for God to see.
II. He sought God for deliverance from the terrorist’s.
15And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said, O Lord God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth. 16Lord, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, Lord, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God. 17Of a truth, Lord, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands, 18And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.
A. He understood the weakness of Man to work out his own deliverance.
B. He recognized the one who was in full control.
C. He let God know that it was ultimately HIS reputation that was on the line.
III. He heard God’s response to the threats. v.21
21This is the word that the Lord hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee. 22Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.
A. Psalm 112:7 (KJV)
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.
B.Isaiah 59:19 (KJV)
So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.
C. If you can get God’s word or response, you’ll come up shouting everytime.
IV. He delivered God’s response to the enemy. v27
Psalm 91:5 (KJV)
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
A. Hear the word of God and then shout it in the face of the enemy!
B. The devil is a liar! What ever he has been telling you has to yield to the truth of God’s word!
